Electric switch.



P. Bf BoW-:Rsv l ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 0-T.12, 1910.

wai' l l n f n Patented Ded. I9, 1911.

UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE.. i

FRED B. BOWERS, F PENN YAN, NEW YORK, ASSIQNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 EDIA R.

RAMSEY, OF PENN YAN, NEW YORK. i

- ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 12, 1910. Serial No. 586,603.

A neetion with electric lights, and the object thereof is to provide what is known as a chain v` switch for electric incandescent lamps.

A further object is to provide abrupt and positive means for opening or closing such switches.

A further` object is to construct such switchesl of few parts whereby breakage or disarrangement thereof is rendered less liable.

A further Objectis to provide the main elements in such switches of materials s uch as porcelain or the like whereby the cost thereof is reduced and uniformity results.

A further object is to so construct the said switches as to insure a constant electrical contactof the operativeparts in the event of a fall, jarring, and the like, of the lamp.

A further object is to provide simple and readily adjustable means for the chain attachment; and a still further object is to provide an adjustable tension device wherey any length of chain may be used and the weight thereof not interfere with a proper operation of the switch.

My invention is fully set forth in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings forma part, in which thc separate parts are designated by the same reference characters in each of the views, and in which T Figure 1 is a view of one side of my invention invposition for use in an incandescent lamp socket; said socket being in s'ection; F ig` 2 is a similar view of the opposite side thereof; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,; Fig. 4 is a sec- 'tion' taken on the ,line 4-4 of Fig. l, looking in the direction o'f the arrow Fig.' 5 is a section taken on the same line and lookvconductive material,

i ing in the direction of the arrow m ,'V Fig. 6

is an enlarged sectional showing of my invention, on a central, line therethrough,v from the side shown in Fig. l.; and Fig. 7 is a cent-ralsection taken through one of the parts which I employ.

In the drawings forming a part of thisapplication I have shown an electric lamp socket, comprising the' usual shell a with removable cap a2 into which the vwires a and a4 pass, said'shell being provided with the usual fiber or other insulator a5 and with the screw shell a for the reception of the lamp, and said shell is also provided with a sl'ot a7 on f one side thereof for a reason hereinafter pointed out.

Within the shell a is arranged the switch which comprises two disks b and b2 of nonsueh asl porcelain, rubber, fiber, and the like, joined by means of a plurality of posts, but two `of which are shown in the.drawings, bs and b, any number of which may be employed, however, the posts shown comprising a part ofv the electrical circuit, that one bg being connection with the wire a and that b* with the-wire at by means of bolts and nuts in the usualor any desired manner, and it will be seen that the post b4 passes through the disk b and is secured thereto through'thc screw shell a and wit-h whichit is in 'elec'- trical connection, whereas the post b, is secured in Vposition through a segment spring, conductive, plate 6 and with whic it is in electrical contact, the said posts forming the poles of the switch, in the present case a single pole switch.

Arranged centrally of the disk b, and

passing therethrough, is a stud c, having aY head c2 forming the center lamp contact,

and being held in position by means of a nut c3 onthe inner side of the said'disk, said stud being also provided with a recess therein for thelower end of a stub shaft c* which carries a cup shaped spring plate'c,

at all times in contact wlth the nut c", and a double winged plate c held uponthe lower face of a rotatable disk d of non-conductive material within which the said shaft is secured by riveting or otherwise. The disk d Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

is provided, on its lower face, with two diametrically opposite' inclined surfaces, one end of each of which is on 'a higher and electrical connection with one of the wires a3, the center contact c2 is also in connection therewith When the said spring rests upon the winged plate c but not when the spring rests upon either of the surfaces d2 or (Z3 and, because of the cup shaped spring plate edge with c", a constant electrical contact is maintained between the shaft 0*, and connected parts, and the center contact c2 despite sudden jars and the like.

Secured to thedisk d is a ring dt, in tie 'form shown of metal but it may be integral with the said disk as will be understood, being made in the manner shown t0 gain strength in the original hand-made device, said rino' being provided upon its upper four ratchet teeth d, d, all and d8, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and said ring is adapted to rotate with the disk d within a non-conductive ring e provided with a transversely arranged plate e2 bearing against the upper edge of the ring (ZJ, as a so shown in Fig. 4, and coperating with the-ratchet teeth on the said ring d4, said ring e having two concentric and parallel flanges e3 thereon forming a groove for a chain e* passing out of the shell a and being guided by means of a bell e5-secured to the disks Z) and b2 in any desired manner and projecting through the s lot a7, thus permitting the Withdrawal of the switch mechanism when desired, and because'of the shoulders formed by the flanges c3, as shown at e" and e", the movement of the said ring e is limited in either direction by the post b3 whichv is Within the periphery thereof, as clearly shown.

Passed loosely through the plate e2 is a shaft f which is also loosely held in thedisk b2 and is provided with a late feon the bottom thereof bearing against the disk (l and which maintains thesaid shaft in position and, as clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, 4, 5 and 6, a Wire spring f3 is coiled around the Shaft f, one end thereof being held inthe plate e2 and the other end in one of a plurality of holes f4 in the disk 7) thus ermitting adjustment of the tension thereo under varying conditions, and it will be seen that, when the ringe is rotated by'pulling upon the chain e4, the plate e3 thereon isl also rotated and is returned to normal position by the coil spring f3, the adjustable tension-of the latter being for the purpose of adapting required because of the weight of the chain y and the inability of the 'spring f3 to raise the same, this feature being particularly important in devices of this class as it cannot be foretold what length of chain will be needed on different jobs, and, a spring of medium tension being provided in the manufacture of the switches, it is necessary to take theentire mechanism apart, secure or make a new spring, and substitute it for the original one and, if it is later desired to more the posit-ion of the said switch, this spring substitution again becomes necessary, but with my adjustable spring tension I am enabled to meet all ordinary requirements. lVhen the plate e2 -is rotated by pulling upon the chain, as just described, the disky dis also rotated because of the coperation between the said plate and the teeth on the ring Z4 and the segmental spring b5 bearing against the under face of the said disk d passes from'the conductive winged plate cG to the non-conductiveinclined surfaces, or vice versa, the passage from one to the other being very abrupt, because of the shoulders formed by the said surfaces, and a 'quick make or break occurs, according to the original position of the spring b5 and plate c and, the limit of movement of the chainv having been reached because of the shoulder e7 striking the post 3, strain on the chain is released and the plate e2 returns to normal position. because of the coil spring'f3 but the disk al remains stationary because of the position of the end of the segmental spring b5 with relation to the shoulders on the lower face thereof, the movement of the said plate e2 being through an arc slightly greater than,

the arc from one shoulder to another on the tace' of the disk d, and the electrical circuit is correspondingly opened or closed in each chain operation.

The elements of my device being of standard form are readily interchangeable or replaceable and 'being few in number are readily assembled and taken apart, for any rcason, and, while I have shown one form et embodiment of my4 invention, it will be evident that various changes in and modifications of the details thereotl may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

By reference to Fig. -7 which is a central section taken through` the non-conductive ring c, my preferred method of chain length adjustment Willseen,'comprisin'g merely a pin eel held in ,the flanges e3 and nearer the inner surface of the groove than the diameter of the chain links or elements,` the `simple withdrawal of the said pin permit- Cil ting a new chain adjustment, said method not, alone being veryeasy of adjustment but being also a positive holding means, and the chain tension adjustment .is readily made with a screw driver or other tool by merely changing the upper end of the spring f3 to anotherh'ole f* without taking the mechanism apart.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A switch for electric lamp circuits,com prising two non-conductive disks, conductive posts connecting the same, one ofwhich is in electrical connection with one wire of said circuit and with said lamp, a non-conductive rotatable ring provided with a groove on its periphery, a chain -held im said groove and extending beyond said switch,l a spring. for holding said ri'ng and chain in normal position, a. non-conductive diskrotatable in said ring having a ring thereon provided with ratchet teeth on the upper edge thereof and having two inclined nonconductive surfaces forming ratchet teeth and two conductive surfaces on the lower face thereof, said conductive surfaces being in constant electrical lcontact with said lamp,

and a conductive spring pawl in electrical connection with' another of said posts and with the other wire of said circuit, and bearing against the lower face of said rotatable disk, on the non-conduct-ive and'conductive surfacesalternately.

2. In a switchfor electrical circuits comprising non-conductive disks held together/ by conductive posts, one of which is in constant electrical connection with one of the wires of said circuit, a spring returned pulley and a chain thereon; a non-conductive disk rotatable in said pulley and having a ring thereon provided with ratchet teeth on the upper edge thereof, a plate on said pul-. ley coperating with said teeth, a conductive plate on thelower face of said disk in constant' electrical connection with the other wire of said circuit, and a spring conductive pawl in electrical connection with another post and adapted to make and break contact with said conductive plate, alternately.

3. In a switch for electrical circuits provided with means for a make and break connection with the poles thereof;` a rotatable ring in operative connection with said means t`o actuate the same, and provided with a groo, e, a chain in said groove and extend- Y operation.

vided with flangesv on a part of the periph-.

ery thereof forming a groove, a chain in said groove and extending beyond said switch, a pin passed through said flanges and engaging the links of said chain for adjusting the same, and means for returning said ring to normal position after a chain i 5. In a switch for electrical circuits provided with means for a make and break connection with the poles thereof; a rotatable ring in operative connection with said means to actuate the same, said. ring being provided with flanges for a part of the periphery thereof, said flanges forming shoulders and a groove, means for engagement with said shoulders to limit the movement of said nction with corresponding' feed wires, a

non-conductive, rotatable, disk provided with a plurality of inclined surfaces on the lower face thereof and having a ring theref/ on provided with ratchet teeth on the upper edge thereof, a conductive plate arranged over a portion of the lower face of said disk,

and in constant electric'al connectionwith` the center lamp contact of said socket, said spring pawl bearing againstsaid plate and said disk, alternately, in the rotation of the latter, a chain extending beyond said socket, means in operative connection with said chain and the ratchet teeth on the upper `face of said disk, whereby said disk is roico and having a ring thereon provided with stant electrical connection with the center lamp Contact, feed wires, means in electrical connection with one of said feed wires for alternate contact with said conductive plate 4 wings ormembers and saidnon-conductive,

said lower diskV face, said plate being incon-i inclined, disk', surfaces, t e other feed wire being in electrical connection with the other 

